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FENDER | VINTAGE ADVERTISEMENTS

Fender advertisement (1953)

Bassmen! Play the original Fender Precision electric bass & Bassman amplifier

Fender Precision bass, Fender Bassman amplifier

Early fifties advertisement for Fenders first electric bass, the Precision, and its companion amplifier, the Bassman

The Precision had been launched in 1951, but was already replacing the upright acoustic bass for the reasons listed in the advert • Exceptional volume • Fretted neck • Extremely easy fingering • Less tiring to play than old style bass • Highly portable • Light weight • Tone and volume to suit playing needs

Fender advertisement (1953) Bassmen! Play the original Fender Precision electric bass & Bassman amplifier

Other related vintage advertisements

Fender Precision - Instruments get out of date too
Fender Precision - Instruments get out of date too
Early fifties advertisement underlining the modern features of the Fender Precision bass, and bassman amplifier
Fender Precision - Don
Fender Precision - Don't cheat yourself
Early Fender advertisement featuring three guitar/amp combinations: The Precision bass and Bassman amp; the Telecaster guitar and Twin amp, and the three-neck pedal steel and Pro amp.
Fender Precision - Fender fine electric instruments
Fender Precision - Fender fine electric instruments
Early Fender advertisement for four pedal steels, three amplifiers, and three electric guitars. At this point in Fender history, it is the pedal steels that top the page; electric guitars are still...
Fender Precision - The best things don
Fender Precision - The best things don't always need big packages
The electric bass was always designed as a replacement for upright acoustic basses. This late fifties advertisement demonstrates the Fender prcisions portability in relation to an acoustic bass
Fender Precision - From Arbiter the Most Wanted Guitar in Britain Today Telecaster by Fender
Fender Precision - From Arbiter the Most Wanted Guitar in Britain Today Telecaster by Fender
Mid 1960s UK advertisement for Fender guitars and amplifiers. In the early 1960s, Fender had been distributed in the UK by Jennings, but by the middle of the decade Arbiter had won the contract. Th...
Fender Bassman - Get Fenderized
Fender Bassman - Get Fenderized
Heavily promoted advert / Competition for Fender in 1967, giving the opportunity to win a 'bandfull' of instruments. The first prize was a Fender Jaguar and Jazzmaster guitar, Jazz bass, Bassman an...
Fender Precision - The lowdown on the bass
Fender Precision - The lowdown on the bass
The pickup is the real secret to the Precision Bass. At the conception of the electric bass, this pickup was designed to simulate the sound of a true bass. Not overbearing or extremely "bassey" but...
Fender Precision - The Worlds Favorite Road Machine
Fender Precision - The Worlds Favorite Road Machine
Part of a larger series of Fender full colour artwork/cartoon advertisements issued between 1973 and 1974, all with a "Worlds Favourite" theme. The Fender Precision was indeed (and probably still i...
Fender Precision - In Concert
Fender Precision - In Concert
The world's favorite performers appear "In Concert." And 9 out of 10 times the electric bass is a Fender. ABC-TV's "In Concert." Far more than entertainment, it's the ultimate experience in the con...
Fender Precision - Goldilocks and the three bears
Fender Precision - Goldilocks and the three bears
...someones playing my Precision bass right now, said baby bear, "and shes's really cookin'!"
Fender Precision - The Hearty-Roaring, Wide-Ranging Preecision Bass
Fender Precision - The Hearty-Roaring, Wide-Ranging Preecision Bass
Found in virtually all musical environments, the Precision Bass is by far the most prolific of the species Basso Electrica. The frequency of the sighting reflects upon the enormous range of the Pr...
Fender Precision - You Can Take A Fender Anywhere
Fender Precision - You Can Take A Fender Anywhere
Whatever band you play in, you've got to pick up on a lot of musical styles. But you'll never have to pick up more than one electric bass, Because Fender® gives you Rock Bass, Soul Bass, Country...

Fender Precision, Fender Bassman

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1964 Fender Precision Bass guitar Pre CBS Vintage Tobacco Burst refinish

1964 Fender Precision Bass guitar Pre CBS Vintage Tobacco Burst refinish

Evergreen, Colorado, 804**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7995

1964 Fender Precision Bass
All original except for Refinished body (Tobacco Burst), Tone potentiometer and Hard case. The refinish was done many years ago and has a lot of nice age and wear.
The original tortoise shell pickguard has some missing bits and is wavy but hey, it's original (as is the metal shielding plate beneath. )
Rosewood fretboard is beautiful and frets are in good shape. Truss works as it should. No issues.
The bass plays great and sounds as you would expect for a... more
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Fender Precision Bass 1972 - Natural

Fender Precision Bass 1972 - Natural

Rochester, New York, 146**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4499

Weight: 9 75lbsThis 1973 Fender Precision bass has it all! The natural body is in excellent condition. The neck and maple fretboard have little playwear despite the age of the instrument. It truly makes you remember that old line: "age is just a number "
This bass has it all, it is in immaculate shape and would look good in any collection, but it is also a great guitar to pickup and play. This bass plays like butter
Almost everything on this bass is original, the one exception is the ... more
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PRE-CBS 1963-66 FENDER PRECISION BASS OR TELECASTER KNOBS (2) VERY CLEAN & NICE

PRE-CBS 1963-66 FENDER PRECISION BASS OR TELECASTER KNOBS (2) VERY CLEAN & NICE

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$269


FREE USA SHIPPING!
Her is a beautiful matched set that is from a 1954 Fender Telecaster. Also perfect for Precision Bass. This is a classic design with with the rounded dome top and some uniform wear on the knurling but barely a hint of on the tops of the barrels. Correct for 1952 thru 1961 models, when Fender 'squared off' the tops of the knobs. Some would argue that this design was being phased out as early as 1956 but I have seen original P-Basses and Teles up through 1961 that had ... more
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1969 Fender Precision Bass Ocean Turquoise Vintage Bass w /  Case

1969 Fender Precision Bass Ocean Turquoise Vintage Bass w / Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5000

Up for sale, a 1969 Fender Precision Bass in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. Professionally refinished by Copasetic Customs in Ocean Turquoise Metallic nitro lacquer, this P Bass retains largey original hardware, outfitted with new electronics
Resonant and acoustically balanced at 8lbs 14oz, this Precision bass is strung with fresh 45-100 roundwound strings, loaded with a Fender Pure Vintage '62 black bobbin pickup. The instrument delivers a ... more
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1966 Fender Precision Bass

1966 Fender Precision Bass

Encinitas, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$12000



1966 Fender P-Bass in factory custom color Candy Apple Red !

Beautiful golden age P-bass that plays and sounds incredible

All original save for a repro pickup cover and the original owner had diamonds inlaid on the fingerboard but has since been replaced with factory dot inlays

This is a FANTASTIC Fender bass and you will not be disappointed

Thank you for looking!
... more
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1971 Vintage Fender Precision Bass

1971 Vintage Fender Precision Bass

Nashville, Tennessee, 372**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$64895

1971 Fender Precision Bass

A true vintage finish from years and years of use
... more
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1966 Fender BASSMAN Piggyback AMP - Amplifier HEAD and SPEAKER CABINET

1966 Fender BASSMAN Piggyback AMP - Amplifier HEAD and SPEAKER CABINET

Buffalo, New York, 142**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2700

Vintage 1966 Fender Basseman Blackface Amplifier Head and2x12 speaker Cabinet ??piggyback stack in great condition. Amp is clean with only a few cosmetic flaws--and it's all original. I have owned this amp since1970 and it has been used very little and stored most of the time. It is fully functional and sounds awesome
Overall a super nice amp from the 60??s. Great collector piece

Local pick up only, Buffalo New York Area
Overview
-Serial #: A22844
-Manufacture Date: ... more
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1965 Fender Bassman-Amp AA165 Tube Bass Amplifier Head #50012

1965 Fender Bassman-Amp AA165 Tube Bass Amplifier Head #50012

Burbank, California, 915**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2695

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eBay Template Design by OCDesignsOnline HomeAboutTestimonialsPoliciesContactSell your Gear 1965 Fender Bassman-Amp AA165 Tube Bass Amplifier Head #50012 ××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× Item DescriptionWORKING CONDITION: Very good - This amp is in very good working condition. There is a wide range of clean ... more
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Fender American Standard Precision Bass Guitar 1983 E3 Vintage USA P-Bass & Case

Fender American Standard Precision Bass Guitar 1983 E3 Vintage USA P-Bass & Case

Hamtramck, Michigan, 482**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2000

Vintage Fender 1983 4 String American Standard Precision Bass Guitar
Genuine Made in USA American Right Handed Fender Precision Bass Guitar; Serial Number: E316441 (E3 denotes 1983 Model Year)
Right handed bass guitar with "BadAss Bass II" bridge, Brown Sunburst body with Maple Fretboard.
Used in great condition with normal surface wear for age, no chips or cracks on body. No damage to frets, plays perfectly with excellent tone
Fender brand hard cover soft lined flight case ... more
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1959 1960 Tweed Fender 5F6-A Bassman 4x10 Combo Amp

1959 1960 Tweed Fender 5F6-A Bassman 4x10 Combo Amp

Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 189**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$14000

Vintage 1959 1960 Fender Tweed Bassman Combo Amp5F6-A circuit shown on tube chart with II date code 1959speaker date codes are from 1960 so amp most likely left the factory in 1960Amp appears to have never been servicedNone of the caps are blown out and are currently working as they should . The warranty has expired!!!Its runs smooth and quiet now but again .THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIREDPlan on having this amp serviced if you want to tour with it or just stare at it in your mancave and have it be ... more
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Vintage 1975 Fender Precision Bass Natural

Vintage 1975 Fender Precision Bass Natural

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2799

Vintage original 1975 Fender Precision Bass in original Natural finish
A real great playing example that is light and resonant with excellent playability and classic vintage P-Bass tone
Neck has a real nice feel to it, more of a '60s profile that's nice and easy to play.
Original P-Bass pickups are warm and punchy and strong.
The truss rod has been replaced on the neck so it's playing great and the logo has been replaced on the headstock. The neck is original as are all the ... more
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1983 Fender USA Precision Bass, Ivory Finish With Maple Neck & Fretboard. OHC

1983 Fender USA Precision Bass, Ivory Finish With Maple Neck & Fretboard. OHC

Highland Park, Illinois, 600**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1875

1983 Fender USA (Fullerton CA) Standard Series Precision Bass w / OHC. Everyone thinks this color is a faded white but it was Ivory right from the factory. In '83 the standard P-Bass was only available in Black, Ivory or 2 different bursts (see pic in gallery from 1983 catalog for reference). This one plays and sounds fantastic and it's 40 years old now so it's got vintage appeal and will appreciate over the coming years. Neck date stamp is first week of April 1983. There is some heavy ring-wear... more
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1961 Fender Bassman

1961 Fender Bassman

Kendallville, Indiana, 467**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3500

Selling this for family friend who passed away
I don't know much about the amp, but I do know the handle on top was replaced.
Amp works good for a 60+ year old amp
Cigarette burns on top give it character
Power cord is 3 prong
YouTube video of actual amp being sold
https: / / youtu be / lv2Yr4rYzHg?feature=shared
... more
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1953 Fender Precision Bass

1953 Fender Precision Bass

Loveland, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$31500

1953 Fender Precision Bass, Attractive Butterscotch Blondefinish, Beautifully grained Ash body, Black Guard, Stunning example, Signed byTadeo Gomez TAD 2-6-53 in the neck pocket, Fantastic feeling neck, Fabulousinstrument, Both Covers, EC, Original Brown gig bag.
... more
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1962 FENDER ELECTRIC 125P5B WHITE BASSMAN GUITAR AMP POWER TRANSFORMER 606237

1962 FENDER ELECTRIC 125P5B WHITE BASSMAN GUITAR AMP POWER TRANSFORMER 606237

Bridgeport, Connecticut, 066**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$550


1962 OEM FENDER ELECTRIC INC. Guitar amp 125P5B Schumacher power transformer. EIA code 606237 for 37TH WEEK OF 1962
Tested Working rust free unit.
These would be found in White, Brown, Black 6L6 Amps in the  1962-1963 era that have tube rectifiers. Full length unsoldered leads
Pictured last is a reproduction 125P5B which shows this as a White 1961, (6G6), Fender Bassman and other 6L6 powered white, brown and possibly extremely early black guitar 🎸 amps, super ... more
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1976 Fender Bassman 50 Head & Matching 2x15 Speaker Cabinet - N

1976 Fender Bassman 50 Head & Matching 2x15 Speaker Cabinet - N

Mesquite, Texas, 751**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1500


Item: 1976 Fender Bassman 50 Head & Matching 2x15 Speaker Cabinet
Description: You are purchasing a 1976 Fender Bassman 50 Head & Matching 2x15 Speaker Cabinet. This amp is what I would call collectors grade condition, which is certainly tough criteria to meet for these rowdy Bassmans. Sounds killer, really shines when cranked up as these should be. Tons of boom from the 2x15 pair and is what I would call absolutely disgusting tones in the best way possible. Has been serviced ... more
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Vintage 1979 Fender Precision Bass  See thru Blonde! 9lb Ash Body! All Original!

Vintage 1979 Fender Precision Bass See thru Blonde! 9lb Ash Body! All Original!

Berkeley, California, 947**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3800

Late 70s Fender basses sometimes get a bad rap due to their weight and lack of quality control towards the end of the CBS era.
This bass is the exception that proves the rule! Somehow, this lightweight (9 lbs), resonant, lovely instrument slipped past the QC inspectors.
It is everything a vintage Fender bass should be
It is finished in the extremely rare see-through blonde finish. It is not solid like Olympic white, which often fades to a cream color and it is not the natural wood ... more
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FENDER 1969 PRECISION OR JAZZ BASS BRIDGE VERY CLEAN WITH MOUNTING SCREWS

FENDER 1969 PRECISION OR JAZZ BASS BRIDGE VERY CLEAN WITH MOUNTING SCREWS

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$239

FREE USA SHIPPING!
This was taken off a 1969 Jazz Bass many years ago. As you can see it really is in superb condition, not quite mint but that makes it a great choice for just about any quality restoration. Or just throw it in your parts bin; it will never go down in value! The plate, saddles, springe and all the screws are in primo condition and there's no annoying stuck screws or rust spots. Three of the mounting screws are original and the underside of the plate is exceptionally clean ... more
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1959 Fender Bassman 5F6-A Amplifier Amp Vintage Tweed and Super Clean!

1959 Fender Bassman 5F6-A Amplifier Amp Vintage Tweed and Super Clean!

El Cajon, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$10000


1959 Fender Bassman 5F6-A Amplifier
This vintage Bassman has the original tweed covering, grill cloth and all of the main components are original. Only some of the capacitors have been changed. The code on the tube chart has worn off but the Chassis Code is "BM02387" which dates it to 1959. See photos for the rest of the stamps and markings. It has recently been serviced, has been fully tested and is in excellent working order. With that said, only the minimum was done to keep as many ... more
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Vintage Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1983

Vintage Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1983

Brookfield, Wisconsin, 530**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2499


Vintage Fender Precision Bass Sunburst 1983
PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR AN IN-HAND DESCRIPTION
An excellent player's grade P-Bass due to the EMG's which actually sound terrific in this bass! Gorgeous sunburst finish & a silky smooth neck that plays great anywhere on the fretboard. Fully inspected & set up ready to play straight out of the case
Cosmetic Condition: Great shape for being 40 years old with some signs of mild play wear - various little nicks, ... more
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Find more Fender Precision, Fender Bassman at vintageguitarsforsale.co

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1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

1960 Hofner Colorama II

1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bassRose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner ZambesiThis very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super AceThe Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

1966 Vox New EscortThe Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin CareCatalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger FolkThe Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitarThe Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music

1959 Hofner Committee

1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

1966 Hagstrom guitar catalogHagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

1965 Hofner President

1965 Hofner PresidentThe President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

1963 1964 Fender catalog

Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.